Taro Fukuyama

Taro Fukuyama is a highly successful entrepreneur and angel investor with a strong focus on SaaS startups in both the U.S. and Japan. He founded Fond (initially AnyPerk), a SaaS employee benefits company that served major clients and was eventually acquired by Edenred in 2023. He has since founded Rice Capital, a seed fund dedicated to supporting early-stage companies, and actively invests as an angel in over 150 startups. co+3

His entrepreneurial journey is marked by resilience and adaptability, notably as the first Japanese founder to be accepted into Y Combinator. He overcame significant challenges, including a language barrier, and pivoted his initial dating app concept into a successful employee benefits platform. His story highlights his dedication and ability to thrive in new cultural and business environments. saastr+2

Taro Fukuyama maintains strong ties to both the U.S. and Japan, reflecting his bicultural background and global business outlook. Born and raised in Tokyo, he moved to the U.S. to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions and now divides his time between Los Angeles and Japan, leveraging his unique perspective to bridge investment and startup ecosystems across both regions. openvc+3